flattery

noun flat·tery \ ˈfla-tə-rē \

Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of flattery

plural flatteries

1 a : the act or practice of flattering

She uses the art of flattery to her advantage.

b (1) : something that flatters

A compliment is flattery …
—Harry Shaw

(2) : insincere or excessive praise

He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery.

2 obsolete : a pleasing self-deception

See flattery defined for English-language learners

See flattery defined for kids

Examples of flattery in a Sentence

He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery.
a talk show host who is known for charming her guests with disingenuous flattery

Recent Examples of flattery from the Web

That outfit, though certainly memorable, did not conjure Beyoncé comparisons, which could quite possibly be the highest form of flattery that social media users in 2018 have to offer.

— christina capatides, CBS News, "Melania Trump's hat has the internet in formation, comparing her to Beyoncé," 24 Apr. 2018
The appearance on Fox continued Macron's pattern of assiduously cultivating Trump using flattery and a careful study of his likes and dislikes.

— jeremy diamond and kevin liptak, CNN, "Trump-Macron: Red carpet treatment belies differences on Iran, Syria," 23 Apr. 2018
If Moon has to earn a Nobel Prize in flattery to achieve this goal, so be it.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Now the President of South Korea Thinks Trump Should Get a Nobel Peace Prize," 30 Apr. 2018
If imitation is truly flattery, then Saban is much praised: Four of Alabama’s Southeastern Conference rivals—Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M— now employ former Saban assistant coaches as head coach.

— brian o'keefe, Fortune, "How Nick Saban Keeps Alabama Football Rolling," 23 Apr. 2018
An Arsenal player from 1996 to 2005, Vieira had been installed as one of the early favourites to replace his mentor in north London, but pledged his immediate future to his current club over the weekend despite admitting flattery at the rumours.

— SI.com, "Pep Guardiola Claims Gunners Legend Patrick Vieira Is 'Ready' to Replace Arsene Wenger," 23 Apr. 2018
The idea seems to be to defuse potential violence through a combination of surprise, fear, and flattery.

— kathryn schulz, The New Yorker, "Japan’s Rent-a-Family Industry," 23 Apr. 2018
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Vladimir Putin must be smiling.

— The Economist, "Armenia’s unpopular president makes himself prime minister," 19 Apr. 2018
In which a scholar reveals himself to be prone to coarse gossip on the one hand, and false flattery on the other.

— cate mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Not illustrating, but dancing with," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flattery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.